Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure – SMBM
Measures the multi-dimensional construct of burnout in work environments, specifically physical fatigue, cognitive weariness, and emotional exhaustion.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure – SMBM was developed by Arie Shirom, Samuel Melamed (1992). It is designed to measure Burnout. The scale is intended for use with Working adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 14 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Physical Fatigue, Cognitive Weariness, Emotional Exhaustion.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Fatigue | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | 6 |
| Cognitive Weariness | 7,8,9,10,11 | 5 |
| Emotional Exhaustion | 12,13,14 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Never or almost never, 2 = Very infrequently, 3 = Quite infrequently, 4 = Sometimes, 5 = Quite frequently, 6 = Very frequently, 7 = Always or almost always.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 14 to 98. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Burnout: 14 – 27
- Moderate Burnout: 28 – 52
- High Burnout: 53 – 98
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.90.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.